James Ernest Collins Sr.

1921 - 2010

James Ernest Collins, Sr., formerly of Panama City, Fla., at age 89, passed on Dec. 18, 2010, at a local hospital in Port St. Lucie, Fla., with his family attending.

Mr. Collins, a well-known and respected attorney for over 53 years, practicing in Panama City, was a member of the Florida Bar Association, along with holding numerous leadership positions, over the breadth of his career, in business, the Florida Bar and its related entities, and civic organizations.

He is survived by his wife of over 58 years, Mary Lena Collins, currently residing in Port St. Lucie, Fla., his sons, James (Jim) E. Collins, Jr., and wife Lynn, of Bradenton, Fla., and John J. (Jack) Collins, of Washington, DC, a brother and numerous nephews and nieces, and predeceased by his parents and four sisters.

Mr. Collins was born on Aug. 19, 1921, in Perry, Fla., where he lived through high school. He was a graduate of the University of Florida, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in 1943, and Juris Doctor in 1948. He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, from 1943 to 1946, in the Pacific theater, stationed in Okinawa, Japan, as a part of the 8th Air Force's preparations for the anticipated invasion of Japan. Mr. Collins' legal practice focused on a general civil practice, incorporating corporate and securities, real estate, business and commercial transactions, litigation and workers compensation, with an AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, participating in the early and later development of Panama City Beach, Fla.

He was admitted and practiced before the Courts and Administrative Bodies of the State of Florida, the U.S. Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He served as a member of the Florida Bar's Board of Governors from 1958 to 1968, a Member of the Board of Directors of Attorney's Title Insurance Fund, Inc., Orlando, Fla., from 1958 to 2000, and thereafter as Director Emeritus, and a member of the Board of Directors of National Attorney's Title Insurance Fund, New York, NY, from 1980 to 1989. His Judicial Service on the bench included that of Deputy Commissioner of Florida Industrial Commission, Northwest, Fla., from 1955 to 1962, of which he was appointed by former Florida Governor Leroy Collins, and U.S. Magistrate of U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida. Mr. Collins served as a member of the board of directors, and outside corporate legal counsel for Sunshine Jr. Stores, Inc., from 1971 to 1986, during which he played a key role in taking the company public, and its listing on the American Stock Exchange, New York, NY.

He was a member of the Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church of Panama City, of which he served as a deacon for a number of years. Mr. Collins was active in Kiwanis International, from 1952 to 2000, of which he served as Lt. Governor for 2nd Division of Florida in 1960, and the Panama City Kiwanis Club, of which he served as a director from 1955 to 1970, and its President in 1959. Upon his retirement from the practice of law in 2000, Mr. and Mrs. Collins moved to Port St. Lucie, Fla., where they have since resided in the community of Lake Charles, St. Lucie West.

As a veteran with honors, Mr. Collins will be buried in the National Cemetery outside of Palm Beach and Lake Worth, Fla., where a place will be reserved for his wife.

Mr. Collins will be missed by his family and friends.